Defoamer



Oct. 29, 1935.

H. E.. VEIT DEFOAMER Oct. 29, 1935. H, E. VEIT' 2,018,749

DEFOAMER Filed May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935UNITED STATES PAT'NT OFFH-CE DEFOAMER Application May 14, 1934, SerialNo. '725,619`

3 Claims.

This invention refers to open beverage containers and more particularlyto a dispenser for controlling the ow of a beverage from a spigot to thecontainer in which it is being placed. It has among its objects toprovide a dispenser that will so control the flow of beverage to thecontainer that splashing, overow of foam, and spilling will beprevented. Another object is to provide a dispenser for beer, carbonatedWaters, liquids Under fermenting and other pressures and similar classesof liquids, that will not permit foam to spill over the top of theglass, or require several operations before filling is completed. Afurther object is to provide an additional adjustable regulation to suitpredetermined conditions. Another object is to provide such a dispenserthat Will permit a container or glass to be lled at one draw and cleanenough to be used for drinking out of. A still further object is to havethis dispenser arranged to prevent damage to the containers that areplaced for it to ll. Other objects Will become apparent as the inventionis more fully set'forth.

In the practice of fillingvglasses with beer and similar foamingbeverages, diiculty is experienced by reason of the immediate foaming ofthe liquor at pouring `from a spigot. It lls the glass with beer gasbubbles and they in turn grow 'and overflow down the sides of the glass.This vcauses the glass to be Wet and soiled on the outside uses `upliquor that is not drunk and requires the use of a scraper to clear oiand wipe the "foam away from the top. It also necessitates'the`liquorbeingdrawn from the spigot for a moment, then closed ofi :untilacertainamount of settle- -ment takes place; then turned on again, Vandstopped; which process is repeated several times Vbefore the glass yisproperly filled with beer and foam. This process requires care, time anddoes not :fill @the glass satisfactorily. However, this inventionfovercomes this diiculty, and enables the fglass to be lled Awith onedraw. This is accomplished by providing a-cap which wprevents y the foamescaping and compresses same until the glass is filled to theproper'extent with beer. The

'pressure of the `foam is regulated in the glass through the usefofa*valve set at apredetermined pressure ran'dgivngfoi a signal when thatpressure is reached, to Warn and notify the operator. The dispenserconsists in general of a cap attached to a conventional type of beerspigot. It closes flat on the glass to be filled and covers it securelyso that the beer and foam cannot escape while being poured in. The valveWorks when the pressure from the foam has reached the proper point. Thespigot is turned oi .by the operator. The excess pressure .escapes fromthe valve and depressures the foam. The `cap 'then Vmay be raised and.the glass of beer removed ready to be drunk without `the foamingtroubles. 6

The arrangement is quickencleanerand provides a more sanitary method of`.presenting the glass -to the customer. It also eliminates thecustomary wipe of the bar-operators cloth and full measure is given. l0

In the drawings which .illustrate by way-ofexample an embodiment of thisinvention:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a spigot with anfattachmentembodying this invention attached thereto. Y 15 Figure 2 isa sectionalview through Figure 1 along the line 22.

Figure 3 is a View of Figure 1 Yalong theline 3 3. Y

Similar reference characters refer to similar 20 parts throughout thedrawings.

In the construction shown, I represents a conventional form of ybeerspigothaving a handle 2 and filling spout 3, and supports thereon a cap5 which is Vpreferably of circular form. Its pe- 25 riphery providedWith a depending rim 6 Alarger in diameter than the glass or container'I to 4be placed under it and the spigot for filling with beer. The capis provided with-a rubber .protecting gasket 8 which is mountedas'indicated and 30 coversover the rim'6 as indicated with an annularbuffers. This serves to protectglasses inserted under the device fromdamage if they happen to hit the protected rim. .A central hole I0 isprovided inthe cap .for vthe vsnug insertion of the 35 spigot. spout,and the rhole Il is in the gasket. A hole I2 in the coverplate, and ahole I3 .in the gasket permits the air or gas under vpressure .in theglass getting access to a pressure valve I4 which .is .mounted -on thecap and relieves the 40 .pressure when the .same reaches the Apoint Ytowhich the adjusting screw I5 isset for. A spring I6, ball I1, and outletware-details of the cony struction of-.this valve. A shelf plate I9,with a rubber tray 20 on it serves as a rest and holder 45 for the glass.to be lled under the spigot. The

fsheli plate isalso providedwith an extension of hold it for operativepurposes. A coil spring 24 is under tension between the head 43 andcentral bearing 40 giving the shelf plate a resilient action. An arm 2|is fulcrumed on, a support 22 attached to the arms of the bracket and bymeans of a pin 23 and slot 21 reciprocates the stem 42 up and downthrough the passage 4|. The stem 42 is provided with a hole 30 so whenthe shelf plate is pulled down flush with the counter surface a lock pin44 on a chain 45 attached to the arm 2|, is inserted through the hole3|) and locks the shelf plate down when not in use. Any suitable means,such as the screws 3| and nuts 46 may be used to support the bracket tothe counter.

A description of the operation of the device will explain theconstruction more clearly.

In operation, the glass is placed on the tray 20 and arm 2| is presseddown, this causes the shelf plate |9 to move downwardly and permits theinsertion of the lling spout 3.

The glass under the lifting action of the shelf mechanism is brought upagainst the cap gasket and isV held tightly between both rubber gasketand tray. When positioned properly, it assumes an upright position withthe spigot spout pointed down centrally in it. The handle of the spigotis operated and the beer rushes down the spout into the glass and llssame with beer 28 and foam 29, the foam being held. within the glass andnot allowed to escape (because of the cap gasket) is compressed untilthe pressure rises to a point Where it opens the relief valve which isregulated to suit various conditions, the operator then closes olf thespigot. The gases 32 in the foam Vescape and accumulate in the glass andsome pass through the valve. The balance escapes easily and quietly fromthe glass when the shelf plate is lowered and the glass detached fromthe gasket and cover plate. The gases being free from the bubbles ofbeer by this time freely pass olf, Without causingfoam to spill over theedge of the glass. At the same time, the bubbles or foamjsubsidessufficientlyto level off at.. the `top of the glass, until thelm ofbubbles releases the gas Within them. The operation is quick; no time islost repeating the opening and closing of the spigot several timesVbecauseY but one filling is made, with the foam kept in. Foam is notmade after filling; vbut during the filling many bubbles are broken andrelease the gas, some of which stays in the liquor and improves thetaste of same because it is absorbed therein and releases slowly.Therhandle 2| is operated `quickly by reason of the springY 24, therubber protecting gasket 8 closes on the glass to be lled in a veryquiet and safe manner, while having the glass completely under controlat all times. Whentheshelf mechanism is not being used it is closeddownflush to the counter and locked out of theY way. Accidental hitting ofglasses against the shelf or cap does not cause injury because therubber bumpers take up the shock harmlessly.A Y

VThe manner of installing the deviceY onthe spigot is simple if separatetherefrom. YIt may be also homogeneously attached in any well knownmanner, such as by Welding or casting direct with the spigot. Whilerubber has been mentioned specifically, such material or substance isnot exclusively intended. Any material or substances that have resilientand cushioning qualities and the other features suitable for the purposeinvolved may be used for the gasket and tray and principles and comingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claimzl. A device of the class described comprising in combination acap having an enlarged peripheral rim, a gasket for covering the cap andrim thereof, an adjustable relief valve on the cap vertically disposedabove the same and having its orifice disposed through the cap andregistering with a hole in said gasket, means for holding the cap invfilling contact With a spout, a shelf plate for holding a container tobe filled against the gasket and cap, a tray on the shelf plate forengaging the bottom of the container in a resilient and non-slippingmanner, an alim for supporting the shelf plate and means for adjustingthe position and sustaining pressure of said shelf plate against thecontainer. 3

2. A defoamer for beer comprising in combination, a spigot device forserving beerunder pressure, a cap attached to the spigot with the spoutof the same passing through it, said cap having an enlarged rim thereon,a gasket of resilient material mounted on the cap and covering the saidrim and extraneous projecting parts of the cap, a tray for supportingthe under part of a container to be filled by the spigot, a shelf platefor) supporting the tray and pressing the container with its open endagainst the gasket of the cap, means for adjusting the pressure of theshelf plate against the container, a movable arm for supporting theshelf plate, means for adjusting the arm, a pressure spring foradjusting the tension of the shelf plate and means for operating theshelf, arm and pressure spring and an adjustable pressure relief valvemounted directly on the said cap with its relief passage in registrywith the bottom and the foam space of the container and spaced away fromthe said spigot and independent thereof.

3. A defoamer comprising in combination, a spigot having a relativelylong filling spout, a relief pressure Valve set for a predeterminedpressure mounted adjacent to the said filling spout,

a cap mounted adjustably on the lling spigot and carrying the said valvevertically disposed above it with the passage orifice therein extendingto the under surface of the cap, a bumper 00 member mounted on the capand on the under surface thereof and peripheral edges and upper surface,a pressure shelf with resilient members for automatically lifting thesame and a container'to be placed thereon, and a resilient bumper 65mounted onV the upper surface and peripheral edges and under surfacethereof.

HERMANN E. VEIT.

